Protection

In just three years, over 40 chimpanzees, victims of the illegal bush meat and live pet trade and trafficking, have come into LCRP’s care, demonstrating the immense need for support in confiscating and transitioning these individuals.

Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP) is dedicated to the rescue, protection and conservation of chimpanzees throughout the country and in driving critical strategies to ensure the species’ survival. Wildlife officials, working under the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) are alerted to illegally held wildlife needing rescue and confiscation but resources and capacity are extremely limited in Liberia.

Prior to the establishment of LCRP, reports of illegal captive chimpanzees had to be ignored, allowing the bush meat and pets trades to run rampant. With no place to bring the chimps and a lack of expertise and capacity in rescue and care meant individuals were trapped from the wild and sold off as pets. Clearly the impact these activities have on diminishing wild populations of chimpanzees is of equal concern.

With seed money from The Jane Goodall Institute, LCRP’s Confiscation Unit, will be developed and implemented in partnership with FDA and Liberia National Police (LNP) with the endorsement of Liberia’s Law Enforcement Working Group and Task Force. This Unit will allow chimpanzees to be rescued immediately and transitioned into LCRP’s sanctuary. With capacity building and new resources, confiscations become more frequent, efficient and effective, and the public is made aware that the hunting, killing, selling or keeping of chimpanzees is illegal in Liberia.

This unique Wildlife Confiscation Unit, the first ever in Liberia, will have both immediate and long-term benefits and impact on captive and wild chimpanzee (and other protected wildlife) populations in Liberia.